Card stenciling machine with address printing means



Sept. 30, 1952 A. D'AMATO 2,612,103

CARD STENCIL'ING MACHINE WITH ADDRESS PRINTING MEANS Filed March 4, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet l m m H a a m 1 m\ 2W%\ m5 n m R P M H mm Mm m D E N m Sept. 30, 1952 CARD STENCILING MAC F'lled March 4, 1946 Sept. 30, 1952 A. D'AMATO CARD STENCILING MACHINE WITH ADDRESS PRINTING MEANS Filed March 4, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Sept. 30, 1952 CARD STENCILING MACHINE WITH ADDRESS PRINTING MEANS Alexander DAmato, Abington, Mass. Application March 4, 1946, Serial No. 651,828

Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for forming ink patterns of any kind, such as letters, figures, lines and the like, on both sides of a series of cards, such patterns being formed by stencilling, printing or other system of ink transfer. More particularly, the invention relates to. a machine for stencilling an ink pattern, such as an advertisement, on one side of a seriesof cards, and stencilling on the other side of the cards successive names and addresses on successive cards, these stencilling operations on each card being done in rapid succession without inverting the card as it is fed through the machine.

To print a message and addresses on cards in prior machines of this general type, it is neces sary to run the cards through the machine twice, the message being stencilled or printed on one side of the cards in the first run, the cards being addressed in the second run. In some machines of the prior art employing sector rolls for the stencilling operation, it is necessary to operate the machine intermittently, that is, with a brief dwell or pause after each stencilling operation to avoid premature engagement of the ink roll with succeeding cards or stencils.

According to the present invention, the apparatus is designed for continuous rapid operation without interruption, each card being fed contlnuously from a magazine at one end of the machine to a receptacle at the other end of the machine. During its passage through the machine each card is stencilled on its under face, a single stencil being used for this purpose. The upper face of the card is then stencilled with a name and address, a different stencil for each card being supplied from a magazine. Thus, one

object of the invention is to provide a machine for rapid and continuous printing and addressing cards in a single run-through.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine which will accommodate cards of diff erent lengths and/or widths.

Other advantageous details and features of the machine will be apparent from the following description thereof, and from the drawings, of which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of apparatus embodying the invention, part of the side wall being broken away to show interior parts;

Figure 2 is a partial plan view of the same;

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4--4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a section on the line 55 of Figure 1;

- Figure 6 is a section on the line 6-6 ofFigure 1; i Figure 7 is a fragmentary elevation of a pair of gears viewed as indicated by the line of Figure 4;

Figure 8 is a partial sectional view of the machine taken on the line 8--8 of Figure 2, and shown on a larger scale. Y

The machine illustrated in Figure 1 comprises a main frame [0 consisting of side walls, a bottom and a suitable number of transverse braces. Mounted on the main frame'is an electric motor I2 connected by a shaft H to a gear box IE; As indicated in Figure 4, a drive shaft l8.is driven at constant speed. This drive shaft is connected through change speed gearing, generally indicated at 20, to a shaft 22 in turn connected by a pinion and gear connection 24 to a second drive shaft 26. As hereinafter explained, parts of the mechanism are driven from the constantspeed shaft 18, other parts being driven from the changeable speed drive shaft 26.The gears can be conveniently shifted by means of a rod 21 having a handle 28 in an easily accessible position.

Mounted at one end of the main frame I0 is a receptacle or magazine 30 for cards; This magazine has a sloping floor 32 terminating in an opening 34 regulated by a gate which is adjustable by manipulation of an adjusting screw 36. Immediately below the opening 34 is a feed roll 38. An auxiliary roll 40 bears on the periphery of the wheel 38 to assist in the feeding of cards which are dislodged from the bottom of a stack of cards within the magazine 30. In order to dislodge cards one by one from the bottom of the stack, a pair of friction elements 42 are mounted on the periphery of the feed roll 38. These elements are of suitable frictional material such as rubber, the function of these elements being to start the bottom card of the stack toward the opening 34, the card being pushed into the nip of the rolls 38 and 40 which thereupon feed the card along a guide track 44 which has side flanges 46 as indicated in Figure 3. A second feed roll 48 is located beneath the guide track 44 and at a distance from the nip 0f the rolls 38 and 40 slightly less than the shortest card for which the machine is designed. The periphery of the feed roll 38 projects up through an opening 50 in the track 44 so as to engage the under face of. cards which are fed along the track. Upon the roll 48 is an auxiliarly idle roll 52-. When long cards are fed through the machine, the feed rolls '48 and 52 are unnecessary and the roll 52 may be swung up out of action by a pivoted bracket 54 OFFICE by which it is supported, the roll being held in its elevated position by a latch 56 which engages the bracket 54. When the bracket 54 is released, a spring 58 presses the roll 52 against the roll 48 to insure proper feeding engagement with the cards which travel down the track 44.

The track 44 terminates at a point adjacent to .an arcuate stencil holder 60 which is a part of. a sector frame 62 including radial arms which are pivoted about the shaft 26 as indicated in Fig.-

ure 4. The location of the sector frame on the shaft 26 is determined by a pair of adjustable collars 64 secured to the shaft 26. These parts of the frame 62 can be adjusted toward or from each other to accommodate stencils of different the stencil holder 60, the stencil being arcuate to conform to the shape of the holder. The holder 60 andstencil .66 thereon extend between a pair of rolls .10- andj12. The lower roll I ismounted on a shaft 14 which is driven as hereinafter described. The upper roll' 121 is mounted ona stub shaft 16 journalled in abracket 18 which isxvertically slidable on a side wall of the main frame I'0.- The shafts I4 and 16: are connected for synchronous operation by a pair'of gears 80 and 82. As indicated in Figure '1 these gears have elongated teeth. so as to remain: in mesh: when the bracket 18': is elevated. -A rod- 84. projects down-from the'bracket 'la and terminates in. a cam follower: 86 which rides on. acam 88. mounted on the shaft 26; A spring 90: may be employed to augment the Weight of the bracket 16 and roll 12 in holding the cam follower 86 against it cam 88. As is evident: from. the shapeof the. camz88 indicated in Figure 8. rotation .of: theshaft 26 results in an'alternate' raising and lowering: of the roll- 12 so that for: approximately half of: each revolution of shaft 26 theupper roll 12' is pressed .down against the roll 10,-the roll '12. being lifted clear during theremaining half of'each revolution of theshaft'26. f

When the roll I2 :is'pressed into. engagement with the roll 10, the stencil 66 and card from. the magazine are caught between the. rolls and. are caused thereby to advance togethenthe' frame 62 being consequently rocked about its axis; These rolls thus act as feed rolls but they also print as they feed. For this purpose theroll I0 is suitably inked by. means of atransfer roll 92 whichissup- 94 also have suitable brackets I00 to support anink fountain (not shown). When a card fed down the track 44- to the rolls I0 and I2, the cam 88 reaches a point'where it permits the roll I2 to descend and start feeding the card and stencil. As the card and 'stencilare advanced, the inked roll I0 prints 'an ink pattern on the under face of the card through the stencil 66.. At the. end of this feeding operation the cam 88 elevates the: roll 12, releasing the'card and stencil.- The card by this time has reached. the next. feeding point and is carried along, butlthe stencil is retracted by a spring I02 which is attached: to the frame 62 and which rocks the frame back to its initial position against a suitable stop I04.

When. a card has. been fed; through the rolls and 12, its forward end. is picked: up by a guidiently against the roll H21.

' II8is ahorizontal plate I22 which bears on cards '15 widths. Figure 4 shows a stencil 66 mounted on 1 ing table I 06 having a pair of upstanding flanges I03, these flanges being laterally adjustable to accommodate cards of different widths. An upper guide I I0 is provided to prevent a card from curling upward away from the table I66. A driven feed roll H2 projects up through an aperture H4 in the table I06 so as to engage the under face of the card and feed the card forward. An

auxiliary'idle roll H6 is supported'above the roll H2 by a yoke H8 carried by a leaf spring I20 which causes the auxiliary roll H6 to bear resil- Hinged to the yoke as they are fed along the upper face of the table I06 and thus keeps them flat as they approach the nextfeedingpoint.

I Above the table I06 is a stencil magazine I24 adapted to contain a stack of address stencils. In order to eject these stencils one by one from the hottom: of the stack a pusher I 26- is provided, this pusheirbeing inthe form of a sliding" plate, as-indicated in. Figure 2 .and having an upstanding lug I28 which engages the end edge of" the bottom stenci'l' I 301 in the stack and pushes it forward to overlie arcard that is fed alo'ngthe table I'06 beneath asindi'cated in Eigure'S'. The pusher l2 6'is reciprocatedby any suitable means such. as a connecting rod I332 attached to a crank I64 mounted on a 'shaft I 36, this shaft being driven through gears I 38 'and; I40 from a shaft I42.

"The stencils I30 are-guided byasuitabletrack I44 which extends, asindi'cated' inFigures. 1 and 6, toasuitable receptacle 11-46 atthe-end' of the machine-" The stencils push eachother along until they drop into the: receptacle-M6 where they are collected.

Mounted on the shaft I42 is 'a: roll I481 which projects up through the-guide table I06 to feed the card's'and their address-stencils; which. come from-the feed roll IIZi and magazine I241respectively. Cooperating with the roll: I48 isan upper roll: I502 mounted on avertically movable bracket I52,the bracket having a rod: I54 projecting down therefrom and terminating in a cam follower I56 which rides on the edge of" a cam I158; the cam being' mounted' on a shaft I60 (Figures 1 and 891. The rolls "I46 and I 50: are'connected by gears: I 62 indicatedin-Figure 2', these gears being prefercome into position. The-roll I50 in addition to being a feed roll is also an inking roll; ink being supplied from a transfer 'roll I66 which is mount- -edon an arm I68 pi-voted'at I70 on abracket I 12. The transfer roll I66 receives ink from'an ink feed roll I14 which in turn receives ink from a fountain (not shown) supported by a suitable bracket I16. The feed roll I14 and bracket I 16; are mounted on the arm I68 so thatthe train of ink rolls can be swung backou't' of' the way for access to. the roll I50. The pivoted arm I68 also permits uninterrupted contact between the rolls I50 and I66. when the-roll I50 is raised and lowered.

When a card has passed the rolls I48 and I55, it slides down an inclined guide-way I into a suitable receptacle I82 in the machine frame;

tating-drive shaft I 8 drives theroll Hi and: the

roll- H2" at constant speed" through "suitable sprocket wheels and a connecting chain 134. I'hedriveshaft 26, the speed of which can be changed by means of the change-speed-gears 2!), drives the first and second feed rolls3B and It, the press roll I48 and the shaft lfiliby means fof j suitable sprocket wheels and a connecting chain I86; The feed rolls 38 "and are thus synchronized in their operation with the cams 88 {and "158, the latter being mounted re'sp'ectively on the shafts 26 and IE0. The pu-rpose "of the change-speedge rine i to 611.351?

machine to accommodate cards of different lengths. For example, the machine illustrated by the drawings is constructed to print cards of postcard length, that is, 5% inches, or cards which are 8% inches in length, but the machine can easily be adjusted to print cards of other lengths. When the shorter cards are printed, the shaft 26 and the other shafts connected therewith are operated at a greater speed than when the longer cards are put through the machine. Since the drive rolls 10 and 12 which operate the first stencil 66 are driven at constant speed, a faster operation of the cam 88 will result in an operation of these drive rolls for shorter intervals than when the cam is revolved at a lower speed. In the former case, the stencil holder '60 has time to be fed through the rolls 10 and 72 for only a part of its length, this part corresponding to the length of one of the shorter cards. When the longer cards are employed, the cam 88 is revolved more slowly and thus enables the rolls to operate for longer time intervals, that is, for a suificient time'to feed the stencil holder 60 through a length equal to one of the longer cards. When the speed of rotation of the cam 88 is changed to accommodate a card of different length, the speed of the cam IE0 is also changed accordingly so that these two cams mayalways be kept in step.

What I claim is:

1. Apparatus of the class described comprising a main frame, a rocking frame supported by said main frame and rockable about a horizontal axis, said rocking frame including an arcuate stencil holder concentric with said axis, a stencil secured to said holder, a pair of rolls rotatable about horizontal axes which are in a common vertical plane with said rocking frame axis, means for driving said rolls, said stencil extending between said rolls so as to be advanced thereby when the rolls are pressed together, means for driving said rolls, means for alternately moving one said roll to and away from the other roll to advance and to release said stencil, alternately, and yielding means for retracting said stencil and holder when the stencil is released.

2. Apparatus of the class described comprising a main frame, a magazine mounted on said frame, means for feeding successive cards from said magazine, a rocking frame rockable on said main frame about a horizontal axis, an arcuate stencil carried by said rocking frame concentric" with said rocking axis, means for guiding cards fed from said magazine onto said stencil, a pair of rolls carried by said main frame adjacent tov anda card between-the rollswhereby said stencil and card are advanced through a printing stroke "and then released, means for'inking the lower ofsaid rolls, spring means for returning the released stencil to its initial position, means for continuing the advance of the card after its release from said rolls, and means for driving said card feeding means and cam means in timed relation. 1

3. Apparatus of the class described comprising a main frame, a magazine mounted on said frame, means for feeding successive cards from said magazine, a rocking frame rockable on said main frame about a horizontal axis, anarcuate stencil carried by said rockingframe concentric with said rocking axis, means for guiding cards fed from said magazine into engagement with said stencil, a pairof rolls carried by said main frame adjacent to the end of said guide means and respectively above and below said stencil, means for driving said rolls at a constant speed, means for moving one said roll bodily alternately to and from engagement with the other roll to grip said stencil and a card between the rolls whereby said stencil and card are advanced through a printing stroke and then released, means for inking the lower of said rolls, spring means for returning the released stencil to its initial position, means for driving said card feeding means and cam means in timed relation, and means for changing the speed of the last mentioned driving means relative to the speed of said roll drive to accommodate cards of different lengths.

4. Apparatus of the class described comprising a frame, a card magazine, means for feeding cards in succession from said magazine, a re- 1 oiprocable stencil, means for guiding cards from the end of said guide means and respectively.

above and below said stencil, means for driving said rolls at a constant speed, means for moving one said roll bodily alternately-to and from engagement with the other roll to grip said stencil said feeding means to said stencil, a pair vof rolls mounted on said frame with said stencil extending between them, means for driving said rolls at a constant speed, spring means pressing said rolls together to advance said stencil and card thereon, cam means for intermittently separating said rolls to release said stencil and card, spring means for restoring the released stencil to its initial position, a stencil magazine on said frame, means for feeding cards released by said rolls to pass beneath said stencil magazine, means for feeding address stencils one by one from said magazine as said cards pass under the stencil magazine, a second pair of rolls adapted to receive address stencils and cards between them, means for driving said press rolls, spring means pressing said press rolls together, cam means intermittently separating said press rolls, means for driving said card feeding means, said stencil feeding means and both said cam means in timed relation, and means adjustable to change the speed of said driving means relative to the speed of the first said roll drive to accommodate cards of different lengths.

5. Apparatus of the class described, comprising a frame, a reciprocable stencil-holder supported by said frame, spring means yieldingly maintaining the holder in a predetermined initial position, a stencil in said holder, a pair of rolls on said frame having said stencil extending between them, means for continuously driving said rolls, means for inking one of said rolls, meansv for alternately pressing said rolls together and separating said rolls whereby said stencil is advanced by said rolls from its initial position when said rolls are pressed together and is returned to said initial position by said spring means when the-rolls are moyed. apart, and means .syn-

zchmnized with the movements of the rollseto iced a. card pnto .said stencil at the beginmn of each muvement thereof from .said initial position ALEXANDER DAMATQ,

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record'in flihe file of this patent: 4

UNITED STATES PATENTS 176,248 Slosson Apr. 18, 1876 Number Date ---Stackhouse Jan. .2-3, 1-894 Belknap Dec. 24, 1-895 Juricic May 12, 1903 Mason Nov. 29, 1964 Bunyan May 7, 1912 Clark J-u-1y 30, 1912 Upham- Aug.,3, 1920 Waters. Non-23, 1920 Cap-linger Nov 13,1923 Phipps June 1-6, 1925 Elliott July 27, 1937 Barber Oct. 3., 1939 Cox Jan. 17, 1911 Elliott -1- Nov. ,30, 19.43 

